The Times calls
the act, which was introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Judy
Chu (D-CA) in November 2013, “a vital measure that would safeguard the
reproductive rights of women all across the nation, regardless of where they
live.” In addition to sponsoring the bill, Judiciary Committee member Senator
Blumenthal will also preside over the hearing.

Pointing to the duplicitous campaign of restrictions that
anti-choice state legislators have enacted to limit abortion access—from absurd
clinic building regulations to requiring that providers have hospital admitting
privileges—the editorial offers a straightforward assessment of the goals of
the Women’s Health Protection Act: “Its purpose is to stop states from
implementing laws billed as protecting women’s health and safety but actually
meant to undermine their constitutionally protected right to choose.”

To underscore the need for such legislation, the NYT editors
directly cite the Center for Reproductive Rights’ president and CEO:

“Nancy
Northup . . . who is scheduled to testify at Tuesday’s hearing in support of
the bill, accurately terms these disingenuous restrictions ‘wolves in sheep’s
clothing’ devised and promoted by politicians, not the medical profession.”

TheNew YorkTimes affirms the urgency of the
Women’s Health Protection Act and perceives its advancement through the
legislative process as a significant shift in the momentum of the reproductive
rights movement.